Maharashtra's Minister for Medical Education Jitendra Awhad climbed the fourth layer of a Dahi Handi human pyramid here today and broke the traditional 'Handi'. Awhad told reporters at the venue of celebrations in Panchkhadi, that some three days ago, an article in the media had challenged his capability to climb the human pyramid.

He said that he took up the challenge and practiced climbing the human pyramid for two days, so that he could demonstrate his skills today, wearing a yellow T-shirt. He said that he was a "human being" with a "sportsman spirit", attacking Shiv Sena leaders in the city who had made fun of him.

However, his staunch political opponent and Shiv Sena MLA Pratap Sarnaik ridiculed Awhad's efforts by dubbing it "a political gimmick". "If he really wants to achieve his dreams, he should climb the tenth layer and win an award of Rs 1 crore," Sarnaik said, using the occassion to remind the gathering that Dahi Handi celebrations in Thane was the brainchild of the late Shiv Sena leader Anand Dighe.